Heated gear is not just for Winter..

Keeping warm when you’re on two wheels can be a bit of a challenge – even in Summer when the sun’s gone down! We’ve all been wearing heated motorcycle gear over the last few months, and it’s been a revelation. Here’s what Editor Ross has to say about his Gerbing:

I’ve done my fair share of rides cursing myself for not being better prepared for the cold. But now I’ve got no excuse because I’ve got my hands on a couple of bits of heated gear from Gerbing, which have stopped me shivering on some seriously chilly treks.

I’ve tried my share of heated gear over the years, and I’ve always loved it – but the nature of the job and the amount of swapping and changing between bikes sometimes means that wiring it in and getting the chance to use it on a regular basis can feel like a bit of a faff. But back in December I had Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GT for a month, and with a couple of big rides planned, I had the perfect opportunity to live with and get to know Gerbing’s flagship gloves and heated jacket liner.

I know plenty of you are sceptical about heated kit. I’ve had conversations with hardened bikers who gently mock those who can’t handle the cold, but I can pretty much guarantee that they’ve not tried it out for themselves because in all honesty, it’s an absolute game changer. Okay, so if it’s sub-zero and the wind’s blasting into you, you’re probably not going to be sweating, but I know for a fact that these two bits of kit will make a world of difference and make the ride a whole load more enjoyable when you’re not shivering your knackers off.

Let’s start with the jacket. It’s a sharply designed, snug fitting bit of kit that’s made to replace your existing jacket liner – but which has the added bonus of over 35 metres of wire which distributes a nice, even spread of heat through the chest, back, collar and sleeves. It’s lovely to wear – comfortable and not bulky at all (despite the technology that’s packed inside). You could easily stick it in the bottom of your rucksack and whip it out when you need it. And it’s also waterproof, so you don’t need to worry about it getting damp and going kaput.

It’s also super-easy to use with a whole host of Gerbing’s other heated biker kit. Three input connections sit neatly inside one of the front pockets and can be wired into a temperature controller. The first plug draws power for the heated jacket liner; another draws power for Gerbing’s heated gloves (the jacket already has the wiring for them stashed neatly down through the sleeves to a pair of zippable pockets on the cuffs). The final one can be used to connect a pair of Gerbing’s heated trousers or heated socks. Seamless stuff. The controller is easy to use, too, and depending on how many additional bits of heated kit you plan to use, you can buy a controller which lets you dial in the heat settings individually.

The gloves are arguably even more impressive. They’re a quality set of bike gloves in their own right, made from soft 0.6mm premium full aniline leather and featuring hard knuckle impact protection, a plush Thinsulate liner for warmth and comfort, and a Hipora liner which helps make them waterproof, windproof and breathable.

They’re pretty toasty to start with but add in the new and improved Gerbing XTREME heating technology and you’ll be laughing. They’re so potent that the gloves’ hottest setting is deactivated when they arrive. You’ll have to check out the instruction and permanently activate them if you think you need it. That said, it’s easy to cycle between the heated settings using the integrated push-button controller that sits neatly on the gloves. You can even press it on the move if you need to up the temperature a touch. Oh, and there’s even a visor wipe built in to make it straightforward to shift any road gunk that’s been chucked your way.

It’s also worth mentioning that if wiring in isn’t for you and you’d prefer to be mobile, Gerbing’s liner and gloves can also be powered by batteries. I’ve no idea how well they perform, but given the firm’s track record, I suspect they’d be more than up to the job of keeping you warm during a long, cold day in the rider’s seat.

I’ve been blown away by these two top bits of heated kit from Gerbing. They made an absolute world of difference on my icy slog from coast to coast through the Lakes, Dales and Moors in near-freezing temperatures. It was never going to be a wholly pleasant journey, as I tiptoed my way away from icy St. Bees, but with my core toasty and my hands as protected as possible, I had a far better time than I expected, and returned home without frostbite and a new appreciation for the value of heated gear. I’m a changed man and have already taken them off the Suzuki and wired them into my next ride that’s going to be my main steed for the next few months.

If you want to know even more about Gerbing’s gear and check out the other bits and bobs in its range, visit: www.gerbing.co.uk

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